The Appeal Court upturned the ruling of a High Court.
Abdul Abiola, son of the late Kudirat Abiola, on Friday decried the Court of Appeal judgment in Lagos which discharged and acquitted Major Hamza Al-Mustapha. Mr. Al-Mustapha had been charged with murder of Mrs. Abiola.
“I missed my mum as much as a little boy. This judgment is like a stab in my heart.
“As a grown-up I am no longer bitter, but the problem is that this might continue to happen to other people. This is an injustice in our system and I pray that our leaders should do the right thing,’’ he told the News Agency of Nigeria.
The appellate court on Friday discharged and acquitted Mr. Al-Mustapha, charged with the murder of Kudirat, wife of the late Moshood Abiola, winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election. She was killed on June 4, 1996 at Motorway near the old Toll gate, Lagos.
Mr. Al-Mustapha, a former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, Sani Abacha, was sentenced to death by hanging on January 30 by a Lagos High Court for conspiracy and murder of Mrs. Abiola.
Meanwhile, Yinka Odumakin, spokesman of the Save Nigeria Group (SNG), has described the judgment as a big blow to criminal justice in Nigeria.
“After Al-Mustapha was duly convicted by a lower court, it is so painful that he has been acquitted,” Mr. Odumakin said.
The Lagos State Chairman of the Civil Liberties Organisation, Ehi Omokhuale, also described the judgment as unfortunate.
However, the President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Yerima Shettima, hailed the judgment, saying it has renewed his hope and faith in Nigeria.
“We thank God for the victory as it demonstrates that there is hope in Nigeria. This judgment shows that evil will not continue to reign in Nigeria,’’ he said.
Source: NAN
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